MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (CNN) - The New Hampshire Republican Party announced Saturday that it was withdrawing as a partner of Sunday’s primary debate on FOX because of the exclusion of two GOP presidential hopefuls.

"The first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary serves a national purpose by giving all candidates an equal opportunity on a level playing field. Only in New Hampshire do lesser known, lesser funded underdogs have a fighting chance to establish themselves as national figures,” New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Fergus Cullen said in a statement.

“The New Hampshire Republican Party believes Congressmen Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter should be included in the FOX forum on Sunday evening. Our mutual efforts to resolve this difference have failed."

Supporters of presidential candidates Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter had complained over the exclusion of both men from Sunday night’s debate, the final faceoff before Tuesday’s primary.

soundoff(871 Responses)

Kimberly Hamill

They say that these two were being excluded because of their poll status, but we all know that's b.s. The real reason is because Ron Paul is saying things that the neocons don't agree with. Since that is where FOX news gets their funding, they aren't going to report fairly. Duncan Hunter is just a sad pawn in this. They had to exclude him, in order to perpetuate their lie about the poll status. I don't know why this comes as a surprise to anyone, FOX news has always been biased and often tells outright lies to push their fascist viewpoints. This is why I watch CNN, at least then I have a chance at hearing the truth.

January 6, 2008 08:42 am at 8:42 am |

CollegeRepublican

Ron Paul, as a candidate, does not deliver a message consistent with the real efforts by the media, and others to "shape the message". When you hear them talking about "rising to the challenge", it's now evident that includes the censorship of presidential candidates, and the usurpation of the US electoral process. Manipulating us into thinking what they want us to think seems like a casual thing to them. Not so casual to us though.

Here, in News Corp's Rupert Murdoch's own words at the Davos World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, which took place in January 2007in Davos Switzerland,
Mr. Murdoch's casually admits (toward the end of the clip) that he and his properties support the Bush war in the Iraq:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF9HpuZm6-g&w=640&h=390]

The rest of the panelists and what they had to say was interesting as well. The clip above was from the forums called "Who Will Shape the Agenda?", moderated by Charly Rose. The gist is that the ruling Elite is acknowledging the rising power of decentralized information (the internet) and how that challenges official, licensed news organizations, official government "shaping" efforts, and to business interests in general. Very interesting that they talk about "rising to the challenge".

It should be obvious that this means fighting back, and working harder to "shape the agenda" for us.

One last thing.....read this transcript of this speech by Rupert Murdoch to the American Society of Newspaper Editors, April 13, 2005.

Read it all, but pay attention to the last 6 paragraphs, where he is "meeting the challenge" of a readership that is perceived as being stupid (all of us).

Rupert Murdoch does not respect all of us, and he is therefore justified to pander to us, to manipulate us, if it means "shaping the agenda" and of course making a hell of a lot more money in the process.

If we act like sheep, Rupert Murdoch will make money doing it. Period.

http://www.newscorp.com/news/news_247.html

January 6, 2008 08:55 am at 8:55 am |

B Frederiks

QUESTION. Whats Fox News afraid of ?
ANSWER. RonPaul , and any other republican that does not meet their neo-con extream religious point of view. Ron Paul is more popular than Fox wants to admit, and this is a very sad and transparent attempt by them to undermind this good mans chances. So much for fair and balanced. Whats Fox going to do if Ron Paul wins the nomination,or the general election dispite their attempts? Wake up Fox, you are really damaging your reputation and credability as well as your relavance. Stop the spin...
Ron Paul for President

January 6, 2008 09:00 am at 9:00 am |

Immigrant

Fox has shown itself to be anti-conservative,anti-constitution and therefore anti-American. I can no longer take the channel seriosuly. Paul is the only conservative running and he is consistant in his record. The posing as Republican candidates are moderate democrats at best.

January 6, 2008 09:10 am at 9:10 am |

Maxine Dorsette

The sponsors should also pull out of tonight's FAUX debate. It's all about money and politics so hit'm where it really hurts–in the pocketbook! Go Dr. Ron Paul!!!

January 6, 2008 09:12 am at 9:12 am |

Steve Dasbach

Fox claims to be "fair and balanced" and proclaims "we report – you decide". What a crock. Ron Paul came in 5th in Iowa, is 3rd in at least one New Hampshire poll and no lower than 5th in any of them. Yet "fair and balanced" Fox excludes Paul from a five person forum.

Fox isn't reporting the news - it has degenerated into a propagada machine for the pro-war Republican establishment. They no longer have any credibility as a news organizaton.

January 6, 2008 09:37 am at 9:37 am |

Todd DOWNEY

I WILL BE BOYCOTTING ALL FOX CHANNELS, and anything having to do with Rupert Murdoch. Welcome to America, land of the deceived home of the scared.

January 6, 2008 09:37 am at 9:37 am |

Randohr

Fox (media) wants to control the election just like they have for decades, it's a deeply ingrained habit that needs to be changed. With the proliferation of reacquired free speech (internet), the power to control has been shifted slightly back to the people. (re-education) I envision a world where our Constitution and Bill of Rights are exported, not by force, but by the will of the worlds populations desiring freedom and liberty. The United States globalist desire world domination to maintain monopolies on all the worlds natural resources, not for our own good or the good of the world, but for their continued dominance. Ron Paul is the wake up call to the American people and the world to take back what was always ours, our free will. Ron Paul and his message of peace, prosperity and freedom will be heard. Our world deserves better than what we have been getting. Fox is nothing more that a tool used for suppression and manipulation, NOTHING MORE!

January 6, 2008 09:46 am at 9:46 am |

Elisha French

I'm glad that the New Hampshire GOP is pulling out. It shows bias leaving a candidate like Ron Paul out. Ron Paul got 10% of the vote in Iowa, beating out Rudy Giuliani. He ended up in a relative tie with has been Thompson and John McCain. Dr. Paul took in 29% of the independent Republican vote as well. The fact that a candidate who is a player in this election is being left out of absurd!

January 6, 2008 09:48 am at 9:48 am |

Katie

It's insane that a candidate who did as well as Paul did in Iowa, who polls so well on the internet, who raises so much money could be excluded. Seriously? Well, good for the NH Repubs for pulling out....it was a fair and justified action.

January 6, 2008 09:50 am at 9:50 am |

Bryan Thompson

This just proves that fox ISN'T "fair and balanced" after all. They support an agenda. Many people have been telling us this for years, but this is undeniable proof that they are trying to shape public opinion.

January 6, 2008 09:51 am at 9:51 am |

Shellie

My hat is off to the NH RNC! I have watched FOX News for several years every week day morning. It will not darken my television screen EVER again. FAUX News has done it this time.

Run, Ron, Run!!!!!!!!!!!!!

January 6, 2008 09:56 am at 9:56 am |

Michael

Fox and Mudoc need to be boycotted.The status qou is scarde and does not want a truly free American. Dr. Paul is the only True Republican, the only one that will make us a true Republic..............Its time for the Fox to be taken dowm..............boycott ...........everything Murdoc and fox has.........Long live the Revoluition.

January 6, 2008 10:02 am at 10:02 am |

Douglas Slayton

welcome to the new world order...
i am boycotting all fox material.......
you will not stop us
we will take back our country
death to the cfr and fox news corp
god help us all
GO RONPAUL

January 6, 2008 10:06 am at 10:06 am |

Ed

Fox News is "Fair and Balanced," but I don't think they are showing either quality here. Their job is not to pick a president, that is our job. Yet they are effectively calling Ron and Duncan hopeless candidates by excluding them. I have lost all faith in Fox.

January 6, 2008 10:11 am at 10:11 am |

Goldman

This just plain makes FOX look bad... Not to mention its created a lot of talk about RP anyways...

January 6, 2008 10:27 am at 10:27 am |

James Clasby

this is why i do not watch fox news, they try to pull stuff like this all the time, they should be not letting RUDY in the debate from what i saw at Iowa.

January 6, 2008 10:29 am at 10:29 am |

sean

Watch the movie Outfoxed. That sums up the propaganda this station does.
Thanks CNN for this comment page. Maybe Fox's stock will hit rock bottom because of this. Remember how much they propped up Bush. It's like watching TMZ's garbage but presenting it as real news.
Peace

January 6, 2008 10:29 am at 10:29 am |

Dorothy

It must be clear to all by now that the media is owned and controlled by corporations that have a political agenda that includes manipulating public opinion. The next issue is where does the FCC fit in to all of this? Who is in charge that this has been going on for so long? The pen is mightier that the sword and we have allowed our media to become a fifth column against us. How can we change this if only the media darlings get to acquire power and authority? I dare say Ron Paul would think of a solution that did not entail coercion, more bureaucracy, or payola. He always has a different point of view from what we have grown accustomed to hearing. If only he would be allowed to air his views ---

January 6, 2008 10:33 am at 10:33 am |

american

As facism quietly creaps into America will we as a society be able to vote it back it into the nothingness that it is? Remember ,Right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...maybe Murdoch and fox news are pursing their happiness...to manipulate and destroy the American Values which made this country great...Freedom, truth, justice and the right of the people to chose their leaders thought a free vote and unbiased media which is interested in delivering all of the FACTS as best they can...that is why the "free and independent media" is so important....independent as in not married to big bussiness, any political party, or single group of people. Enough of the self indulgizing sicophants in Washington and self appointed, overly wealthy individuals who belive that it is alright to manipulate the public "for their own good"...I can think for myself thank you...one person one vote!!! Not one person and the medias' vote....America is about to finish waking up from the baby boomer nightmare created by powerful people and institutions which has sold America to forign governments and entities for the purpose of making themselves wealthy...we are moving from self suffciency to complete dependency...welcome to the 2 party system...Vote independent of the media...go to the candidates websights and imploy the new media of the internet to find the truth, not from some muck racker like Murdoch and like minded cronies.
Thank you for your time

January 6, 2008 10:36 am at 10:36 am |

Monsoon Mike

Viewers starting tuning to Fox News because they were tired of the unbalanced coverage on the competing networks. The "fair and balanced" slogan hit a nerve. Now we see that "fair and balanced" means nothing more than a Republican version of what the other networks do. "Fair and balanced" apparently means "pick our favorite candidates and promote them."

I used to be a Fox News fan, but now I see the light. I never thought I'd say it, but CNN and NPR have been doing a better job with this election than Fox, but I still see that Democratic lean. When oh when will be have TOTALLY fair and balanced reporting?

I blame this unbalanced reporting trend more on Americans in general than on the networks, which is the reason that in every election, we wind up with the "lesser of two evils" candidate instead of the BEST candidate.

I urge Americans to get off their behinds, quit watching the boob tube for every bit of analysis that you could do on your own, research (yes, there's a novel idea) "research" the candidates and their platforms, and vote for the BEST candidate.

It's about time we get an underdog like Ron Paul or a third party into the leadership. And that'll only happen when Americans start thinking for themselves and not rely on the media to do their thinking for them.

January 6, 2008 10:40 am at 10:40 am |

Scott P

Im finished with Fox News...They are nothing but liars and theives!

RON PAUL for PRESIDENT !!

January 6, 2008 10:41 am at 10:41 am |

susan

Fox "fair and balanced" .....highly questionable. I'm not necessarily a Ron Paul supporter but I have noticed that the media and in particular FOX NEWS has blatently ignored him. I believe Guiliani received only 3% in Iowa while Ron Paul's vote was 11%. How can any media outlet deny that? How can Fox News exclude such a candidate? I agree with other bloggers it's time to watch CNN and BBC. FOX NEWS: you've been officially snobbed!

January 6, 2008 10:42 am at 10:42 am |

Paul

I expect this to happen on stations like ABC, but I had higher hopes for Fox. You have turned into a great disappointment! Shame on you.

Didn't you see the results in Iowa? That Paul came in higher than Rudy? That Ron Paul has something to say that is gaining support from a number of people? Are you scared to put him? Is it because he shows the weakness in others that are running?

It is a sad day in the United States of America.....that the media can choose the president of this country, by putting on only the candidates they want to win.

All the networks...STOP choosing for us. Put the candidates on and let us have a choice!

January 6, 2008 10:46 am at 10:46 am |

Ray

I will soon switch from cable to satellite tv ,so I can pay for subscription in such a way that Fox News will not receive a dime of my money. In the mean time I have blocked their fake news channel.

Congratulations Fox, you win..... I won't be able to see Ron Paul in your little "debate", but guess what? I will no longer be subject to any of your propaganda. I will go out of my way to let people know how to boycott your sponsors and how to subscribe around your bias.